Latest news with #PaulGoldspring
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Pair of soldiers who plotted to sell cannabis are spared jail
Two serving British Army soldiers who plotted to sell more than £8,000 worth of cannabis have avoided jail. When police arrested one of the soldiers, he phoned his wife telling her to get rid of a bag. But officers spotted her trying to hide a holdall full of cannabis in a hedgerow, the court heard. Sentencing the duo at Westminster Magistrates' Court, chief magistrate Paul Goldspring said their offending had been driven by 'greed'. After the judge previously ruled they could not be named because of national security concerns, the pair were referred to only as Defendant X and Defendant Y. The hearing was conducted in a closed court with the public excluded and the soldiers sat behind a screen in the dock. The duo, whose unit can also not be revealed, admit being concerned in the making of an offer to supply the class B drug between November 23 2023 and November 28 2023. Defendant Y further admitted having cannabis on November 30 2023 with intent to supply, while Defendant X pleaded guilty to being in possession of the drug on the same date. Judge Goldspring told them: 'You have led exemplary lives as soldiers. 'You have served us with great valour, bravery and fortitude. 'The reason for this offending is plain and simple: greed. 'That creates a paradox'. Defendant X was handed a 10-month suspended sentence, and Defendant Y an eight-month suspended sentence. The judge said he believed the the soldiers' remorse is 'genuine' and spared them from an immediate custody term. Frederick Hookway, prosecuting, said that after being arrested, Defendant Y, who has served for more than 20 years, asked to phone his wife from the police station, claiming that his daughter was unwell. 'He instructed his wife to dispose of a bag and not to ask any questions,' the court heard. But police were watching the house using a drone, and spotted his wife carrying a 'holdall that she then attempted to hide'. Defendant Y 'fell in with the wrong crowd' after what had been an impressive military career, the court heard. DNA profiles matching both X and Y were found on the holdall, Mr Hookway said. The quantity of cannabis found in Defendant Y's possession was 997 grams, which had a street value of £10,000, the prosecutor added. Defendant X was found with 33.47 grams, the court heard. The court was told that Defendant X's mental health had declined after he became injured. Messages between the pair showed them discussing selling the cannabis, Mr Hookway said. They spoke of selling 2.3 kilos for £8,750, the court heard. Defendant X also pleaded guilty to possessing articles for use in fraud relating to seven receipts for a Rolex Oyster Perpetual 41MM Jubilee watch. He confirmed the receipts were fake and that he had intended to use them to sell a fake Rolex. The soldiers were each ordered to pay £200 in costs.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Teen denies planning terror attack
A 15-year-old boy has denied planning a terrorist attack and being part of a banned neo-Nazi group. The teenager, from Northumberland, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court accused of engaging in conduct in preparation for committing acts of terrorism. He is also charged with one count of membership of a proscribed organisation called The Base. He was remanded into youth detention accommodation and is set to appear at the Old Bailey on 14 March. The court heard the organisation he is accused of being part of is a far-right white supremacist group and was proscribed by the Home Office in July 2021. At the short hearing the boy, who attended by video link, spoke only to confirm his personal details and deny the charges. "The charges that you face are too serious for the youth court to deal with," Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told him. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. HM Courts Service
BBC News
27-02-2025
- BBC News
Northumberland teen denies planning terror attack
A 15-year-old boy has denied planning a terrorist attack and being part of a banned neo-Nazi group. The teenager, from Northumberland, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court accused of engaging in conduct in preparation for committing acts of is also charged with one count of membership of a proscribed organisation called The was remanded into youth detention accommodation and is set to appear at the Old Bailey on 14 March. The court heard the organisation he is accused of being part of is a far-right white supremacist group and was proscribed by the Home Office in July the short hearing the boy, who attended by video link, spoke only to confirm his personal details and deny the charges."The charges that you face are too serious for the youth court to deal with," Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told him. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Independent
29-01-2025
- The Independent
Hundreds of rail fare evasion prosecutions quashed
Scores more prosecutions brought by three rail firms for alleged fare evasion have been quashed. Northern Rail, TransPennine Express (TPE) and Great Western Railway (GWR) brought dozens of prosecutions against passengers using the controversial single justice procedure (SJP) despite not being permitted to do so. More than 500 prosecutions were declared null and void by Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring during a three-minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. Mr Goldspring ruled on August 15 last year that the cases should be declared 'void' and any fines paid should be 'reconciled'. Thousands of these cases have already been quashed and Mr Goldspring said this should be the final hearing to deal with such prosecutions. More than 350 Northern cases, 180 TPE cases and 36 GWR cases were declared a nullity at the hearing, meaning it is as if the proceedings never existed. 'I plan to say what I have said previously in accordance with my ruling on August 15 that these cases should not have been brought,' Mr Goldspring told the court. 'Any reconciliation in relation to fines is between the Courts and Tribunals Service and the prosecuting railway companies.' Rigorous enforcement against deliberate fare evasion, abuse, and violence will continue Northern spokesman A separate argument in relation to penalty fare appeals is set to be brought to court soon, the Chief Magistrate said. The SJP was set up in 2015 to allow magistrates to decide on minor offences, such as using a television without a licence or driving without car insurance, without defendants going to court. Rail companies were permitted to use the SJP in 2016 to privately prosecute fare evaders but many have been brought under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889, which is not allowed under the procedure. Other cases were also prosecuted by Avanti West Coast, Greater Anglia, Arriva Rail Northern, Merseyrail and C2C, the Courts and Tribunals Service said. Northern, which operates trains across large swathes of northern England, said it is reviewing its approach to enforcing ticketing and said it has temporarily suspended certain prosecutions while the review is carried out. A Northern spokesman added: 'We remain firmly committed to tackling fare evasion and protecting taxpayers' money. Anyone who travels without a valid ticket can be asked to pay the fare in full, issued with a penalty fare or contacted to provide further evidence to settle the matter out of court. We always take into account any evidence provided or mitigating circumstances. 'Northern has already commenced a review of its approach to enforcing ticketing, recognising that there are circumstances where the rules on ticketing may not be understood by passengers. We have also temporarily suspended certain prosecutions whilst its review is undertaken. 'Rigorous enforcement against deliberate fare evasion, abuse and violence will continue.'
Sky News
29-01-2025
- Sky News
Hundreds of train fare evasion cases quashed after unlawful prosecutions
Hundreds of people have had their train fare evasions quashed after they were prosecuted unlawfully. The cases were the last 500 to be declared void after a judge ruled last year that railway operators were not allowed to use the controversial single justice procedure (SJP). Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring's ruling in August paved the way for thousands of train fare evasion prosecutions to be quashed. The SJP was introduced in 2015 to allow magistrates to rule on minor offences - such as watching TV without a licence or driving without insurance - without the defendant being present in court. They were extended to private rail fare evasion prosecutions in 2016 - but many train companies have used them citing the Regulation of Railways Act 1889, which they are not permitted to do. In a three-minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Mr Goldspring quashed 350 Northern cases, 180 TransPennine Express cases, and 36 Great Western Railway cases. He said it should be the final hearing dealing with these kinds of prosecutions - after more than 28,000 were quashed in November. Rail firms who have also seen their cases dropped include Avanti West Coast, Greater Anglia, Arriva Rail Northern, Merseyrail, and C2C. "These cases should not have been brought," Mr Goldspring told the court. "Any reconciliation in relation to fines is between the Courts and Tribunals Service and the prosecuting railway companies." Threats of prosecution over £1.85 Engineering graduate Sam Williamson told the Sky News Money blog in October last year of his SJP ordeal. He says he was threatened with prosecution by Northern Rail after he mistakenly bought an invalid £3.65 ticket using his 16-25 railcard. The full price ticket was £5.50 - £1.85 more. Mr Williamson used the ticket to board a train just after 7am, not realising that under the fine print of the railcard terms his ticket was invalid. A minimum fare of £12 applies to any ticket bought with a railcard before 10am. Northern dropped its action against him following media coverage. Northern, which operates trains across northern England, said it is reviewing its approach to enforcing ticketing and said it has temporarily suspended certain prosecutions while the review is carried out. A spokesman added: "We remain firmly committed to tackling fare evasion and protecting taxpayers' money. Anyone who travels without a valid ticket can be asked to pay the fare in full, issued with a penalty fare or contacted to provide further evidence to settle the matter out of court. We always take into account any evidence provided or mitigating circumstances.
